This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Gair family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Gair Family History

Gair Surname Meaning

Scottish: nickname from Gaelic gearr ‘short’.

Irish and Scottish: shortened and altered form of McGirr from Gaelic Mac an Gheairr ‘son of the short man’.

English (Northumberland and Durham) and Scottish: variant of Garey.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gair family from?

You can see how Gair families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gair family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gair families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 180 Gair families living in Northumberland. This was about 38% of all the recorded Gair's in United Kingdom. Northumberland had the highest population of Gair families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gair surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Gair ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gair. 31% of Gair men worked as a General Labourer and 80% of Gair women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gair were Colliery Labourer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Gair | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    31%
  • Builders Labourer Heavy Worker
    10%
  • Postman (retired)
    7%
  • Colliery Labourer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Gair family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 15,000 census records available for the last name Gair. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gair census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gair

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Gair. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gair immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Gair. For the veterans among your Gair ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gair military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gair family history

Discover More

What is the average Gair lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Gair life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1968, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Gair in 1962 was 66, and 96 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gair ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gair family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial